Fruit juice extracting machine



May 12,1936.- I njFfwA'rKlN' 2,040,114

FRUIT JUICE EXTRACTING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 w v INVENTOR. flora/09f waft/r75 ATTORNEYS.

1935- H. F. WATKINS 2,040,114 FRUITJUICE IEXTRACTING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Filed my 31, 1953 H. F. WATKINS FRUIT JUICE EXTRACTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 M 15 37 6/ I /77 w 43 1/ w ATTORNEYS.

atenteol 9 1936 Watkins Fruit Machinery Company, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Gallic a Application May a1, 1933, Serial No. 673,535

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to machines for the extraction of juices from various fruits, particularly citrous fruits such as oranges, grapefruit and lemons.

5 It is an object of the invention to provide a machine of the above character which will function entirely automatically, and which in its use will afford a material saving over hand operated methods and devices for extracting fruit juice. l

fruit Juice extractor which will afford a relatively high recovery at juice, and which will enable production of a fruit juice of higher quality than is obtainable by prior methods. In this connection the present invention will not cause the extracted juice to be contaminated to a material degree by undesired oil or material from the fruit peel or pith, or to be seriously oxidized by contact with air.

A further object of the invention is to improve machines of the above character whereby a relatively high capacity is afforded for a machine of given size and cost; and whereby the machine .wlll

operate with a high degree of uniformity and reliability;

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which can be operated upon a variety of difierent types and grades of fruit, to extract the juice therefrom.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the pre- Ierred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevationalview, illustrating a machine incorporating the present invention.

' Fig. 2 is an elevational assembly view looking towards the right hand end of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional detail taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in cross section, illustrating particularly the means disclosed for 45 successively feeding fruit to the machine.

Fig 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view, showing one of the fruit handling devices in detail and also showing in detail the mounting for one 01 the rotaable burrs for operating upon one part 01 a 50 halved article of fruit.

Fig. 6 is a plan detail, partly in cross section, showing both of the fruit handling devices, together with the rotatable burrs with which they cooperate.

Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive illustrate diagrammati- A further object of the invention is to provide a cally the manner in which the fruit handling de vices operate, to present parts of a halved article of fruit to the reaming burrs.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating the manner in which the vacuum and pneumatic pressure is alternately and cyclically applied to the fruit handling devices.

Fig. 13 is a detail view of one end of one of the reaming burrs.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the machine as illustrated has its operating parts carried by a frame l 8 formed of suitable structural members. The operating elements carried by the frame serve to feed articles of fruit successively to the machine, and as the articles of fruit are received, they are halved, and the individual parts or halves of the fruit are then engaged by duplex fruit handling devices. 'l'liese fruit handling devices carry the halved parts of the fruit into operative engagement with a pair of rotatable burrs, which serve to extract fruit juices. At the completion oi. this operation, the peels are expelled and the fruit handling devices are then returned to engage the succeeding article of fruit; from which juice is to be extracted.

The means disclosed for feeding the articles of fruit one by one to the machine, consists of an inclined trough ii, to which the articles of fruit can be supplied. The lower end of trough H is provided with a slot ill, to accommodate a star wheel I3. Star wheel 53 is carried by rotatable shaft M, and is biased, as by means of a suitable spring, in a direction which tends to rotate the wheel in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. i

In order to oscillate star wheel i3, 1 have shown a lever it which is pivotally carried by the frame of the machine, and which is adapted to be oscillated by engagement with an actuating bar l1. As will be presently explained, actuating bar ii is carried by another part of the machine, which is cyclically reciprocated in a general horizontal direction. Fixed to shaft Hi there is an arm 68, which is provided with a pin and slot connection is to the lower extension of lever it. Therefore when lever it is released by retraction of bar ll, star wheel 43 is permitted to rotate one-quarter revolution in a counterclockwise direction. When lever I5 is engaged by car ii, the swinging movement imparted to it rotates star wheel Iii in a clockwise direction one-quarter revolution, to discharge one article of fruit from the lower end of the trough ll.

As an article of fruit is delivered from the lower end of trough ll, is received by means which impales the fruit upon a suitable knife. Thus referring to Fig. 4, an oscillating arm 2| is provided, which has a frusto-conical shaped fruit receiving cup 22 mounted upon its free end. Arm 2| is carried by a shaft 23, which in turn is journaled to the horizontal structural elements 24 of the machine frame. A stop 26 limits swinging movement of arm 2| in a counterclockwise direction. It will be noted that cup 22 is so located with respect to the lower end of trough ii, that as an article of fruit drops from the lower end of this trough, it is received by cup 22 and centered by gravity. Arm 2| is normally biased to- .ward the fruit receiving position illustrated in Fig. 4, as by means of a spring 21. spring 25 serves to connect arm 2| with a reciprocating carriage 31.

In the operation of the machine, arm 2| together with cup 22 is swung to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, to impale the article of fruit upon a knife 28. Knife 28 is in the form of a blade arranged in a plane normal to the axis of shaft 23 and intersecting the cup 22. The forward edges 29 of this blade are sharpened, and a spear head 3| with sharpened edges is arranged to pierce substantially thru the center of the fruit. The blade is mounted by suitable means, such as bolts 32 which attach the same to a cross-bar 33, which in turn is mounted upon the structural members 24. As will be presently explained, after an article of fruit has been received within cup 22, and centered by gravity, arm 2| is swung to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig.4 during operation of the machine, to impale the fruit upon knife 28, in the manner illustrated. Upward swinging movement of arm 2| is shown limited by a suitable stop, such as One edge of plate 33. It will be noted that the impaling of the fruit upon the knife 28 partially but not completely serves the fruit into two halves. A sufhcient amount of the fruit peel remains unsevered, to retain the fruit upon the knife, after arm 2| drops back to its initial.

position.

The fruit handling devices, which grip the two halves of the fruit impaled upon blade 23, and which carry the two halves into engagement with burrs for extracting juice from the same, have been designated generally at 36. These devices are supported by carriage 31, which in turn is adapted to reciprocate longitudinally of the plane of blade 28. The particular mounting illustrated for carriage 31, to enable its desired reciprocating movement, consists of a pair of parallel guide tubes 33 extending in a horizontal direction, and which have their ends secured to the main frame of the machine. Sleeves 39 serve to slidably en gage tubes 38, and are in turn secured to the carriage 31. Actuating rod l1, which as has been previously explained serves to actuate the star wheel i3, is secured to carriage 31 as illustrated in Fig. 4. While the fruit handling devices 38 may vary as to detail, the construction as illustrated is as followsz--Each device consists of an outer tubular shell 4|, having an end closure $2. Slidably fitted Within tubular shell M, there is a tube or sleeve 63. Fixed to the outer end of tube $15 as by means of a threaded connection, there is a cup 46 formed of metal or other rigid material. Suitable means such. as a compression spring 46 normally urges the inner tube d3 toward an extended position with respect to the outer shell ii. Within the metal cup it there is a liner :31 made of resilient material, such as soft vulcanized rubber. Formed upon the Another '56 and 51.

interior side of liner 11 are a plurality of annular pliable ribs 48. These ribs preferably taper inwardly to a relatively thin edge, and serve to facilitate an air-tightcontact with the surface of the fruit being handled. The center portion of liner 91 is apertured to accommodate a clamping bolt 49. This bolt is shown ported as indicated in 5|, to afford communication between the interior of the cup and an air tube 52. It will be noted that there is considerable space between liner 41 and the inner walls of the metal cup 44, to enable the liner to accommodate itself to the contour of the article of fruit being gripped. Sliding movement of the inner tube 43, with respect tothe outer shell 4|, is shown limited by means of a screw 53, accommodated within a longitudinal slot 54 formed in shell 4|.

For mounting each of the devices 36 with respect to the carriage 31, each of the shells 4| is shown provided with a pair of alined stud shafts These studs are shown journaled to the upper and lower branches 58 and 59 of a depending bracket 6|, which in turn. is secured to and may be considered as forming a part of carriage 31. With the particular form of machine assembly illustrated the axis of studs 56 and 51 is vertical, so that the pivotal movement afforded each of the devices 36 with respect to carriage 31, is in a horizontal plane.

Before explaining the manner in which the fruit handling devices 36 are actuated, I shall first explain briefly the mechanism illustrated for effecting reciprocation of the carriage 31. Mounted upon the main frame of the machine there is a suitable source of power, such as an electric motor 66. This motor serves to drive a counter shaft 61, thru pulleys 68 and 69, and belt 1|, or like drive connection. Journaled upon the frame of the machine there is also a crank shaft 12, which is driven from countershaft 61, thru pini0n'13 and bevel gear 14. Fixed to the shaft 12 there is a crank arm 16, which is connected by a link 11 to a lever 18. Lever 18 has a suitable pivotal connection 19 with the frame of the machine, as for example to the base for motor 66. Pivotally connected to the lower end of lever 18, there is a pin 8| which extends thru an aperture in a portion of carriage 31. The free end of pin 8! is provided with a latch member 82 to retain an operating connection to the carriage, and the pin is surrounded by a compression spring 83 to somewhat cushion the drive connection thus afforded. Movement of the carriage to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 can be definitely limited by a stop M (Fig. 3) which can be provided with a buffer or cushion 86. It is evident that during operation of motor 86, crank shaft 12 is continuously rotated, whereby swinging movement of lever 18 causes repeated reciprocation of the carriage 31.

The actuating means shown for the fruit handling devices 36 includes a shaft 9|, which extends transversely to the path of movement of the carriage 31, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The journals 92 for shaft 9|, are mounted upon the carriage 31. Secured to the ends of shaft 9d are {the pulley wheels 93. which are engaged by flexibie cords or cables 95. The upper stud shaft 56 of each of the fruit handling devices 36 is provided with a pulley 96, and the cord 9% from the corresponding pulley 93 passes over this pulley 9t, and has its terminal attached to the metal cup 46 as indicated at 91. A helical spring 98 surrounding shaft 9| normally tends to rotate this shaft and the pulley 93 in a clockwise direcis pivotally mounted upon the carriage 31.

tion as viewed in Fig. 1, thus serving to maintain cords 94 continuously tensioned.

In order to positively rotate the pulleys 93 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, I provide a cam bar IllI, which is fixed to the frame of the machine, and which is provided with inclined cam face I92. Mounted upon the outer face of the adjacent pulley 93, there is a pin carrying a roller I03. Normally roller I03 is in a lowered position as shown in Fig. 1. However when the carriage 3'! moves to the right as viewed in this figure, roller I03 engages the cam surface ment of carriage 31 to the right, roller I03 rides upon top of the cam bar IUI, during which time pulleys 93 remain relatively stationary with respect to the carriage.

Rotation of pulleys 93 by the cam bar IOI, while the carriage 31 is moving to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, by pulling uponcords 94, serves to rotate the fruit handling devices 36 in opposite directions (Fi 3) and at the same time to retract metal cups 44 with respect to the outer shell 4|. When each of the handling devices are rotated thru substantially degrees further rotation is arrested. When in such positions the cups 44 face the direction of movement of the carriage 31; in other words the longitudinal axis of the two handling devices are shifted from a position of substantial alinement (Fig. 3), to positions in which these axes are substantially parallel to each other and parallel to the direction of movement of carriage 31 (Fig. 11). This movement will be subsequently explained in greater detail in connection with Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive. During the return movement of the carriage 31, it is desirable to retain the two handling devices substantially parallel until the end of the reciprocating movement, at which time these devices are rotated into substantial alinement, comparatively rapidly, and the metal cups 44 then released to permit extending movement toward each other with considerable rapidity compared to the rate with which these cups are retracted. To secure such snap action near the end of the cycle of operations, I provide means for locking pulleys 93, after these pulleys have been rotated to a, predetermined degree by the axis of cam bar Illl, .and for releasing these pulleys near the end of reciprocating movement of the carriage 31 to the left as viewed in Fig. 1. To accomplish this result, mounted upon the carriage 31 adjacent one oi the pulleys 93, there is an arm or bracket I06, carrying a slidable lmk pin I91 (Fig. 3). For one angular position of the adjacent pulley 93, lock pin III? is adapted to engage within an aperture I08 (Fig. 1). Pin III! is urged in a direction toward the adjacent pulley 93, by means of leaf spring I09. In order to move pin IO'I to released position, an L-lever I II is provided, which has its one arm connection to pin I31 by cable or cord H2. The L-lever III Its other arm is adapted to engage a trip bar H3, which is carried by stationary part of the machine. Near the end of the movement of the carriage toward the left (Fig. 3) L-lever III is actuated by engagement with trip bar II3, to move pin IN to disengaged position, thus releasing pulleys 93 and permitting the fruit handling devices 36 to snap back to their original positions. Likewise, when the carriage moves toward the right as viewed in Fig; 3, and when roller I93 has attained the upper edge of cam pressure of compression spring at.

tions 53 and 59 of bracket ti.

bar IUI, pin III! is per mitted to engage within aperture I08. With this arrangement it is evi-= dent that while cam bar illi determines the nature of the angular mo ement of pulley wheels 93 while the carriage is ovin to the right, the release of pin IOI determines t e return angular movement at the end of the return stroke of the carriage.

It has been explained that rotation of pulley wheels 93 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, while the carriage is moving to the right,

causes the fruit handling devices 35 to be swung from a position in which their axes are in substantial alinement, to a position in which their axes are spaced and substantially parallel. To insure proper return movement of each of the fruit handling devices, when pulleys 93 are released by retraction of pin I01, I provide suitable means such as a spring H4 (Fig. 5). This spring is coiled about stud 51, with its one end anchored to the stud and its other end anchored to the branch portion 59 for bracket 3| While the fruit handling devices are positioned with their axes parallel and spaced apart, it is desirable to have the metal cups l4 retracted with respect to the associated shells ti. However, when the fruit handling devices are swung inwardly in opposite directions thru 90 degrees, to bring their axes into substantial alinement, the

cups 44 are projected into engagement with the opposite sides of an article of fruit. To rrake possible these operations, latch means is provided in conjunction with each fruit handling device for retaining the metal cups M retracted and for releasing these cups for projecting movements towards each other upon opposite sides of the fruit, at the end of the swinging movement, into the position illustrated in Fig. 3. Thus, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6, each of the fruit handling devices is provided with a latch I I (5, which is pivotally carried by shell ll and which has an inturned end portion I I7 adapted to engage within an aperture H8 formed in one side wall of the inner tube 43. When cup 44 is retracted, latch H6 snaps into engagement with aperture H8, and thus retains tube 43 and cup M retracted with respect to the outer shell 4i, against the Iii-order to automatically release latch it there is shown a yoke (Fig. 6) which is carried by the spaced por- Carried by yoke I I9 there is a set screw I 2I adapted to engage and release latch I I6 when the fruit handling device is swung thru an angle of 90 degrees. In other words, as viewed in Fig. 6, when the two fruit handling devices are swung from the positions illustrated in this figure, to positions in which their axes are in substantial alinement, latches I I6 are actuated to release their engagement with the inner tubes 53, thus permitting the cups 53 to be projected towards each other under the urge of compression spring 46.

In conjunction with the fruit handling devices 36. I provide means for applying a vacuum to the interior of cups to when these cups are projected upon opposite sides of an article of fruit impaled upon blade 28. This vacuum is maintained until after a juicing operation, at which time pneumatic pressure is applied to positively expel the peel. While the vacuumand the pneumatic pres sure may be supplied from extraneous sources, by apparatus operating independently of my machine, it is convenient to incorporate such apparatus in the machine itself. Thus, for this purpose I have shown a cylinder I36 mounted upon the frame of the machine, the inner piston of which is connected to a packed rod I21. Rod I21 is in turn connected to lever 18, so that it is rethe main carriage 31. Alternate application of vacuum and pneumatic pressure to the fruit handling devices is controlled by a suitable distributing valve I26 (Fig. 2). The movable member of this valve is rotatable and is shown operatively connected directly to the crank shaft 12. In conjunction with pneumatic cylinder I26 and the distributing valve I23, I provide a pressure tank 12s and a vacuum tank I3! (Fig. 12) A connection between pressure tank I29 and cylinder I26 is established thru flow line I32 and the check valves I33 and I36. Connections to the vacuum tank I3I are established thru flow line I36 and the check valves I31 and I38. Distributing valve I28 is provided with three points of connection lettered A, B, and C. Line I39 connects pressure tank I29 with point A of the distributing valve. Point B on the distributing valve is connected by line I iI with the tubes 52 of the two fruit handling devices 36. Note that a portion of this con nection adjacent the fruit handling devices is formed by flexible, hose sections I iIa (Fig. 6) to accommodate the movements of the fruit handling devices during operation of the machine.

The point of connection C of the distributing valve I28 communicates with the vacuum tank 135 thru flow line I42.

Distributing valve I28 has three main operating positions. In one position, points of connection B and C are placed in communication, whereby air is sucked thru flow lines MI and I42 to the vacuum tank I31, and whereby vacuum is applied to the fruit handling device 36. At this time flow line I 36 is closed. In its second position communication is established between the points of connection A and B, so that pneumatic pressure from tank 129 is permitted to flow thru lines I39 and I61 to the fruit handling devices. At this time communication between points of connection A and B, with respect to the point of connection C,.is interrupted. In the third operating position of the distributing valve I2 6 communication is interrupted between the points of connectlon A and C, and also with respect to both points A and C and point B. At such times atmospheric pressure exists within the flow line MI. Continuous reciprocation of the piston in cylinder I29 during operation of the machine insures continuous maintenance of a pressure substantially above atmo'pheric in tank I29, and a vacuum considerably below atmospheric in tank I3I. If desired, these tanks can be provided with suitable relief valves in order to prevent the pressure from becoming excessive, or the vacuum from becoming juice therefrom. A pair of spaced parallel tubular shafts I66 are provided, which are carried by journal blocks I41. The journal blocks in turn are shown carried by a suitable support such as a hanger Hi8, secured to the guide tubes 36.

M9 there is a compression spring I56. One end of this spring seats against burr I5I,. and the I56. For adjusting the position of follower I56 and thus the pressure upon spring I56, a threaded other end seats upon a slidable forkedfollower ciprocated in synchronism with reciprocation of rod I51 is provided, which is threaded thru an I end plug I58. With this assembly each of the burrs I5I is always urged in one direction by the compression spring I56. When a halved article of fruit is forced upon burr I5I, this burr may give a certain amount against the compression spring I 54. The drive connection to burrs I5I can best be explained by reference to Fig. 2. Thus mounted upon the shaft of motor 66 there is a pulley I6I, which is connected to pulleys I52 by belt I63.

In order to collect the juice extracted by the operation of burrs I5l, these burrs are enclosed by a suitable receiver I 66, provided with a lower discharge spout I66. The front of receiver I64 is provided with an opening I61 to amply accommodate the cups 44 of the fruit handling devices. It is desirable to convey the juice collected by receiver I66 directly to a strainer I68. This strainer as illustrated consists of a housing I69 within which there is a rotary drum screen "I. A pulley I12 is attached to the shaft of this screen, and this pulley likewise is driven by the drive belt I63. The strained juice can be removed thru pipe I13 and after passing thru a trap I15, is delivered to the vacuum tank I31. With this arrangement for handling the juice there is less opportunity for contact with the air with resultant oxidation. From tank I3I the juice can be removed thru pipe 116.

A suitable form of burr which has given good results is shown in Fig. 13. The outer surface of the burr body I11, is provided with helicoidal ribs I18. These ribs merge with the rounded end surface I19 and this end surface is interruptedby shallow grooves. A burr of this character will not tend to grind away a portion of the peel because of the manner in which the ribs I18 merge with the rounded end surface I19, although an efiicient extracting action is afforded.

Operation of the machine as a whole is as follows:'As has been previously explained during each reciprocation of the carriage 31 an article of fruit is carried upwardly by arm 2I and impaled upon the blade 28. The position of the fruit, which has been designated by numeral I, after impalement, is shown in Fig. 7. It will be noted that it is substantially in alinement with the line of centers between the fruit handling devices, when these devices are turned so that their axes are in alinement. The article of fruit occupies such an impaled position when carriage 31 returns .to its left hand limit, as viewed in Fig. l. The cycle of operation, particularly with respect to the fruit handling devices, will be presumed to start immediately before the carriage moves entirely to its left hand limit as viewed in Fig. 1, or in other words immediately after pulley wheels 93 have been released by retraction of pin I61, and at the instant that latch I I6 is being released by engagement with set screws I2 I. The fruit handling devices 35 at that instant are in alinement as shown in Fig. 7, with the metal cups 66 facing toward each other. Immediately upon release of latches I16, cups 44 move toward each other under the pressure of springs 46, and engage the opposite sides of the fruit I as shown in Fig. 8. At substantially the same time distributing valve I28 reaches a position in which a vacuum is applied to cups M. The liners 41 in a general direction towards the burrs i| extent of this movement will be seen by comparing Figs. 8 and 9. During this movement the two halves of the fruit I are completely severed by the knife 2!. During the further reciprocating movement of the carriage from the position indicated in Fig. 9 to that indicated in Fig. 10, pulley wheels I! are being rotated a. certain angular amount by virtue of engagement of roller I03.

with the inclined-end face of cam bar lfll, and the pulling upon cables 94 first causes retraction of cups 44. Thus in Fig. 10, the cups are shown fully retracted and gripping the two halves of the severed fruit. During the next portion of the movement of the carriage from the position indicated in Fig. 10 to that indicated in Fig. 11, there occurs a final pulling movement of cables 94 which causes both of the fruit handling devices to be rotated thru 90 degrees in opposite directions, to the position shown in Fig. 11. During the final portion of the reciprocating movement of the carriage towards the burrs i5l, the=fruit handling devices remain substantially'as shown in Fig. 11. However these devices are advanced sufficiently far to bring the open face of the fruit halves into engagement with burrs l5l. While the halves of the fruit are being pressed upon burrs I5l, these burrs give a certain amount, and therefore the net pressure between each burr and the fruit half being juiced, is determined by the pressure, exerted by spring I54. Likewise other factors being constant, the rate with which each burr advances into the fruit, is determined largely by the pressure of these springs. In Fig. l1, dotted lines" the position of the fruit handling devices when the carriage is at the end of its travel across the burrs with the burrs oper ating within the fruit halves. It will also be noted that the dotted lines show the burrs being forced backwardly a certain amount against the pressure of springs I54. Following operation of the burrs upon the fruit halves, the return movement of the carriage is commenced, and when the fruit handling devices reach approximately the position illustrated in Fig. 11 in solid lines, the distributing valve I28 is positioned to apply pneumatic pressure to expel the peels. Near the end of the return movement of the carriage, pin I01 is disengaged with respect to the adjacent pulley wheel 93, thus permitting the fruit handling devices to rotate rapidly thru 90. degrees. Immediately upon completion of this rotating movement latches iii of the fruit handling devices are tripped, tocause the metal cups 44 to be projected into engagement with opposite sides of the next article of fruit, which in the meantime has been impaled upon blade 28.

The advantages afforded by the various features of my machine will be evident. Operation is entirely automatic, without the necessity of contacting the juice wth the human hands. The burrs act to squeeze away the juice with a minimum cutting away of the fruit pith or webbing. Thus while the pith or webbing is flattened out upon the inner surface of the peel, it is not cut or torn away, so that substantially all of the pith or webbing remains with the peel and does not contaminate the juice. The speed with which the burrs advance into the fruit depends upon a The number of factors, in addition to the pressure erted by springs I54. other factors are the speed With respect to minimizing oxidation by contact with air, it is evident that all the working partsof my machine can be enclosed within a housing, in which an atmosphere of inert gas such as nitrogen can be maintained.

The vacuum cups will readily grip the surfaces of the fruit being handled, irrespective of the surface contour presented. In this connection note that the liners 41 are sufficiently flexible as to be pulled against the fruit surfaces by vacuum, rather than to accommodate for varying contours by varying degrees of compression of the rubber. While cups of a given size will accommodate fruit of. varying sizes, if desired cups of various sizes can be provided to extend the range of usefulness of the machine. Likewise various sized burrs can be provided so that the operator may select burrs of a size commensurate to the size of fruit being juiced.

It is evident that many modifications can be made within the spirit of my invention. For example, the vacuum cups can be retracted and projected pneumatically rather than mechanically. Likewise the fruit handling devices can be pivotally mounted upon a fixed support, with means for projecting the vacuum cups toward the burrs after the fruit handling devices have been swung into alinement.

I claim:

1. In a fruit juice extractor, a pair of spaced rotaryburrs, a carriage adapted to reciprocate toward and away from said burrs, a pair of fruit handling devices supported by said carriage, each of said handling devicesincluding a pair of parts 'slidably connected together, a vacuum cup carried by one of said parts, and a pivotal connection between the other of said parts and said carriage, actuating means for simultaneously reciprocating said carriage and for effecting pre determined cyclic movements of said fruit handling devices, said cyclic movements comprising presenting the'vacuum cups on opposite sides of an article of fruit while the parts of the fruit handling devices are extended, retention of the vacuum cups in such position while the carriage is moved towards the burrs, movement of the vacuum cups away from each other, swinging of the vacuum cups about the pivotal connection of said devices to said carriage to positions in alinement with said burrs, and the returning of said vacuum cups to said first mentioned positions following a juicing operation, and-means serving to successively present and halve articles of fruit for engagement by said vacuum cups. at;

starting from a position of said vacuum cups on opposite sides of an impaled article of fruit, after which the vacuum cups are swung outwardly in opposite directions to present thefruit halves to the burrs.

3. In a fruit juice extractor, a pair of spaced rotary burrs, a member adapted to have relative comprising presenting the vacuum cups on opposite sides of an article of fruit while the parts of the fru'ithandling devices are extended, retention of the" vacuum cups in such position while the member is approaching the burrs, movement of the vacuum cups away from each other, swinging of the vacuum cups about said pivotal connection to positions in alinement with said burrs,

and the returning of said vacuum cups to said first mentioned positions following a juicing operation, and means serving to successively present and halve articles of fruit for engagement by said vacuum cups.

4. In a fruit juice extractor, a fruit handling device, said device comprising two slidably engaging parts, a vacuum cup carried by one of said parts,means serving to carry the other of said parts for pivotal swinging movement, means serving to alternately apply a vacuum and pneumatic pressure to said vacuum cup, and means for effecting relative sliding movement between said parts to extend and retract said cup-laterally of the axis of such swinging movement.

5. In a fruit juice extractor, a stationary knife, means for impaling an article of fruit on the knife, 9, pair of spaced rotatable burrs positioned on opposite sides of the plane of the knife and faced in the direction of the edge of the knife, both said burrs having their axes of rotation in the same plane, a pair of fruit handling devices,

means for supporting said devices for pivotal.

movement in opposite directions about axes parallelto and on opposite sides of the plane of the knife, means for effecting cyclic actuation of said devices, the cyclic actuation including 81 ping of the two halves of an article of fruit whilethe article of fruit is impaled on the knife, fol lowed by swinging movement in opposite directions to bring both halves of said fruit into alinement with the axes of said burrs, and means for effecting relative reciprocating movement between the burrs and the gripped halves of the fruit while said halves are in such alined posiion.

6. In a fruit juice extractor, a-stationary'knife,

means forimpaling an article of fruit on the knife, a pair of spaced rotatable burrs positioned on opposite sides of the plane of the knife and faced in the direction of the edge of the knife, both said burrs having their axes of rotation in a common plane. a pair of fruit handling devices, each of said devices including a fruit-retaining vacuum cup, means for supporting said devices for pivotal movement in opposite directions upon axes parallel to and on'opposite sides of the plane of the knife, means for effecting cyclic actuation of said devices, the cyclic actuation including gripping of the two halves of an article of fruit while the article is impaled on the knife followed by swinging movement of the devices in opposite directions to bring both halves'of the fruit into alinement with the axes of said burrs, and means for effecting relative reciprocating movement between the burrs and the gripped halves of fruit while the halves are in such alined position.

'7. In a fruit juice extractor, a knife, means for effecting impalement of an article of fruit on the knife, a pair of spaced rotatable burrs positioned on opposite sides of the plane of the knife, both said burrs having their axes of rotation in the .same plane, a pair of fruit handling devices.

means for supporting said devices for pivotal movement in opposite direction upon axes paral-- lel to and 'on opposite sides of the plane of the knife, means for effecting cyclic actuation of said devices, the cyclic actuation including gripping of the two halves of an article of fruit while the article of fruit is impaled on the knife, followed by swinging movement in opposite directions to bring both halves'of said fruit into alignment with the axis of said burrs, and means for effecting relative reciprocating movement between the burrs and the gripped halves of the fruit while said halves are in such aligned position.

-. HAROLD F. WATKINS. 

